Pubdate: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 Source: Washington Post (DC) Copyright: 2014 The Washington Post Company Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/mUgeOPdZ Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491 Author: Danielle Greene STOP ASSET FORFEITURE PRACTICES NOW The Nov. 19 Metro article "Council votes to overhaul seizures" reported that D.C. police have taken for years "cash, cars and other property" from people not charged with crimes without oversight. I am outraged. Which part of "effective immediately" doesn't the D.C. Council know how to spell? Why wait till 2018 to fully overhaul the city's asset forfeiture program, directing seized proceeds to the city's general fund instead of to the police department? The idea that the department appropriated funds in advance of crimes being perpetrated and prosecuted is outrageous. It's easy to imagine police entrapments or pay-to-play shenanigans that would bring in cash to balance the forecast. I urge the D.C. Council to consider "effective immediately" to avoid national disgrace for having engaged in the asset forfeiture scam in the first place, thereby making crime pay before it happens. For shame, for shame. Danielle Greene, Falls Church - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom